Skip to main content

Illinois to Celebrate Third Annual Soil Health Week

Illinois Soil Health Week.

The third annual Illinois Soil Health Week takes place March 4 through 10, offering in-person and virtual events to better connect residents and resources throughout the state to a natural resource that impacts everything from our health and our food to the health of our local economies. Throughout the week, the Illinois Stewardship Alliance (ISA) will bring together farmers and eaters, organizations, state leaders, legislators and other partners to celebrate and educate about one of Illinois’ most precious natural resources.

Events are free and open to anyone that wants to learn more about soil and will feature educational opportunities including a home pantry garden and compost demo, Getting to Know Chicago Soil and Hempology 101, among others. 

The ISA is especially excited for the second Soil Health Lobby Day in the state capitol on March 6. This is an opportunity for people to join the Alliance, agriculture and environmental organizations and other farmers and eaters in Springfield to advocate for a slate of issues that aim to protect our soil, climate and water quality. Buses will be available from several locations. 

In 2022, Illinois celebrated its first Soil Health Week and attendees saw first-hand that soil is the ultimate connector and has a way of bringing people together. In addition to its impacts on health and economic wealth, healthy soil helps keep waterways clean and even stores climate-warming carbon. And our state is lucky to have some of the best soil in the world.

For more information about the partner- and farmer-led events and to register, visit IlStewards.org/soil-health-week. To register for Soil Health Lobby Day, visit bit.ly/SoilHealthLobbyDay.

a painted farm house
Harvest Celebration Auction to Benefit Illinois Stewardship Alliance
Participants can support the Alliance from anywhere in the world by bidding on great auction items and experiences, including farm tours, food and wine experiences, gift baskets and more. All donations are tax deductible. Read More »
Raspberry jam jars
Lawmakers Support Local Food and Sustainable Agriculture in Illinois
Legislation headed to Governor J.B. Pritzker’s desk will make Illinois more delicious, reduce food waste and improve local farmers’ bottom lines. Liz Moran Stelk of Illinois Stewardship Alliance reviews 2021 good food legislation. Read More »
Filed of Sunflowers
A new REGENERATIVE LABEL Enters the Organic Food Arena
The new Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) is coming soon to a grocery store near you. Advocates say it takes organic agriculture’s emphasis on soil health; promotes carbon sequestration in soil, which could reduce the risks of global climate change; and adds other Good Food Movement principles such as animal welfare and fairness to farm workers. Good Food Movement advocate and writer Bob Benenson explores what this new certification means to producers and consumers. Read More »
Illinois Farmers Receive Grants to Expand Local Food Capacity
Eight farms producing local food for the Chicagoland region are receiving grants from the Illinois Stewardship Alliance to scale up their production to meet skyrocketing demand for local food spurred by the pandemic. Read More »
Illinois Stewardship Alliance Hosts The Dish Virtual 'Storyslam'
The Illinois Stewardship Alliance will host an inaugural virtual online storytelling event, The Dish, on the evening of October 4 as part of its annual fundraiser. Read More »
Letter from Publisher
One thing we can do for ourselves and our families now is to stay connected with nature and mindfully focus on the more positive things in our world. Read More »
In-Print Event Brief March 2024
Subscribe to our Email Newletter Here!

April 2024 Issue

Read It Now

April 2024 issue of Natural Awakenings Magazine, Chicago edition, with a woman in a yoga pose.
Click Here to Read Past Issues